Château Haut-Marbuzet - Saint-Estèphe 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This world-renowned vintage is located in Marbuzet, on a hillside facing the Gironde. Its vineyard is located halfway between Cos d'Estournel and Montrose. Henri Dubosq, a key figure in the Médoc region, has been making wines on the estate since 1982 with great success. In 2006, he joined forces with Michelin-starred chef Philippe Jorand to enhance the 13 hectares of Château Layauga-Duboscq, located on excellent terroirs around Gaillan and Queyrac. Haut-Marbuzet wines are always well-structured, combining roundness and voluptuousness with great aging potential. Haut-Marbuzet is truly a superb estate and a must-visit in the appellation.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

A beautifully austere 2021 at this stage, with a nose marked by oak and oriental spices that already hints at complexity: black fruits, undergrowth, game, and pencil lead. Firm on the attack, with beautiful density and structure, supported by thick yet smooth tannins, the palate reflects the strong character of the vintage. The long finish bodes well for the future. One thing is certain: the future belongs to this wine. 2028-2035

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

True to form, Haut-Marbuzet has produced a charming 2021 vintage, a silky wine with a caressing texture and very mellow tannins. The Merlot grapes give it a beautiful roundness and smoothness that make it so successful.

About the estate:

No other Bordeaux wine can boast such a devoted community of enthusiasts. For over thirty years, Haut-Marbuzet and its colorful and dynamic owner, Henri Dubosq, now supported by his sons, have won the hearts of discerning wine lovers. While the wines have long been considered charming in their youth (which they undeniably are), but limited in terms of aging potential, one must taste the mature vintages of this Saint-Estèphe wine to understand that its terroir is above all capable of producing wines that age beautifully. The old Merlot vines planted on blue clay give Haut-Marbuzet's bouquet superb truffle notes reminiscent of certain old Pomerols. Like many others, the estate experienced a slight decline in the early 2000s, but its strong comeback in recent years makes it more indispensable than ever in the cellars of wine lovers.

Wine Enthusiast

James Suckling

About wine:

Red currants, iron, white pepper, and orange zest sprinkled with fine sweet spices and a hint of chili chocolate. The palate is tight and finely grained, with medium to full body and a tight, juicy finish. The lovely tannic structure and minerality linger in a long, compact finish. An excellent Saint-Estèphe in this vintage, which surpasses many others. Drink now, but best from 2026.

Terre de Vins

About wine:

The first impression is one of maturity, a blend of blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry. The attack confirms this, but the palate and finish reveal a very structured, straightforward, firm, and intense wine. The palette is enriched with spices and menthol. While some primeurs are perceived as "ready to drink," this is a classic bottle that will need to be laid down.

Yves Beck

About wine:

What complexity and power in this wine. It plays on many levels, sometimes subtle, sometimes vigorous. The countless olfactory nuances attest to its subtlety, with hints of Sichuan pepper, peppermint, blueberries, and graphite, among others. Delicious and dense, the wine has tannins that are certainly angular but in tune with the tension of the acidic structure. A wine that is far from revealing all its secrets, but which clearly displays its ambitions. 2027-2047

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About wine:

Fresh and minty with hints of graphite and ripe black fruit, Ch. Haut-Marbuzet has a bouquet that is both very Médoc-like and charming. Juicy and linear on the palate, with a delicate texture, beautiful tannins, and a barely perceptible woody touch. The sensation of slow maturity. A very fine bottle in the making. Bravo!